2015 Aston Martin V12 Vantage S Roadster

Aston Martin's fastest and fiercest roadster ever.

Aston Martin may have big plans for its future models, but apparently those crafty Brits haven’t finished proliferating their current crop of speedy sexpots. This latest variation on the Aston Martin theme, the 2015 V12 Vantage S roadster, is a particularly savory one that combines the relentless speed of the V12 Vantage S, which we drove last fall, with the exuberant open-air romance that is innate to British roadsters.

If you know anything about the V12 Vantage S coupe, none of these specs will surprise you. The naturally aspirated V-12 makes the same 565 hp at 6750 rpm and 457 lb-ft of torque at 5750 revs in both body styles, and it likewise comes mated solely to Aston’s third-generation seven-speed automated manual, dubbed Sportshift III. The engine provides considerably more scoot than the non-S V12 Vantage roadster that Aston introduced for 2013, which produced “just” 510 hp and 420 lb-ft of torque.

According to Aston Martin, the little two-seater requires a mere 3.9 seconds to hit 60 mph from a stop, 0.1 second longer than the coupe and 0.3 second quicker than its manual-only predecessor, making it the quickest series-production Aston Martin roadster in history. Top speed is a noggin-scalping 201 mph, up a remarkable 11 mph from the original V12 Vantage roadster. Of course, we’ll reserve judgment until we have put it through our testing regimen. We are ready when you are, Aston.

The chassis follows the same sportification program as the coupe, with three-stage adaptive damping, two levels of power-steering assistance, and specially developed carbon-ceramic brakes. A separate Sport mode for the powertrain dials up throttle response, shift speed, and even the sound quality of the new One-77–derived exhaust system.

The best news is that, unlike the original V12 Vantage roadster, the S roadster is coming to the U.S., with deliveries starting in the first quarter of 2015, according to Aston Martin. Pricing hasn’t been announced yet, but don’t expect much change back from your $200,000 bill.